Saudi liner newcomer targets fleet growth with Bahri deal

Saudi Arabian liner newcomer Folk Maritime is pressing ahead with ambitious growth targets in a deal with Bahri Ship Management, a unit of the kingdom’s top shipping line, Bahri, to collaborate on technical shipmanagement, crewing and shipbuilding supervision of Saudi-flagged vessels. 

Under a memorandum of understanding Bahri Ship Management will support the Riyadh-based feeder operator led by former Hamburg Süd boss Poul Hestbaek with the aim of linking Saudi Arabia to regional ports across the Middle East and North Africa. 

The company currently operates two vessels in the Red Sea, with plans to further expand its fleet through new purchases as well as newbuildings, purpose-designed for regional trade.

“Bahri’s proven expertise in ship management and crewing, will enable us to strengthen our fleet and add tremendous value to our operations as Saudi Arabia’s pioneering independent feeder and short-sea shipping operator,” Hestbaek said.

In March, Folk Maritime partnered up with French liner giant CMA CGM on a service connecting the Saudi ports of Jeddah, Neom, and Yanbu to the ports of Sokhna in Egypt and Aqaba in Jordan, with each partner operating one vessel.